Tag Archives: Sue Hillier

Mary Henderson: Thorley, 1930s, 1940s

My mum lived all her life here, going to school in Thorley. She took the Scholarship, but didn’t hear anything and went to West Wight Secondary School. After she’d been there about 3 months, a man turned up in the classroom and asked what she was doing there:
getting on with her work she said. Apparently, she’d passed the Scholarship but no one had told her, so then her parents had to find the money to pay for her uniform and she had to travel to Newport to school on her own, leaving all her friends.

Sue Henderson nee Hillier

Sue Henderson nee Hillier

One day when she was at home ill with tonsillitis, Mr. Biddlecombe from Wellow appeared on a ladder painting her bedroom window frame. She politely asked him how he was and was surprised when he told her that he’d had a chill. His wife hadn’t aired the waistband of his underpants properly, he told her.

In WWII, Kath and Marge, my mum’s older sisters both joined up, the WAAFs I think. Because Marge wasn’t very old, they had to share a billet. Mum was only 10. Dad was 9 years older and went straight into the R.A.F. when he left school, ending up in Singapore.
Mary Henderson b 1954

Cyril Henderson in RAF uniform

Cyril Henderson in RAF uniform

Mary and Sue Henderson: Thorley, railway gates 1950s

Thorley Map west from Hill Place Lane

Thorley Map west from Hill Place Lane

Hill Place Lane

Where the railway crossed the road, there was a little cottage where Mr. and Mrs Hoare lived, after Mrs Hoare managed to set fire with an oil lamp to the thatch of their cottage in Wellow. The cottage was completely destroyed and the Bishops, who lived in the other side, had to move out to Thorley.
Mrs Hoare was supposed to open the crossing gates first thing in the morning for the early train, but she wasn’t an early riser. Mum said she remembered hearing the terrific row when the train crashed into the crossing gates on more than one occasion. The sound echoed through the whole village. Mary Henderson b 1954

Thorley School photo 1932, 1930s

Thorley School 1932

Thorley School 1932

Thorley School pupils c 1932

Back Row: Hazel Trowbridge, ? Robinson, Margery New, Gladys Scovell, Ivy Russell, Vecta Cooper
2nd row down : Reg Cozens,?Welsted, Kath Cozens, Cyril Henderson, ?Robinson, Jack New, ?Eileen Thornton,Margery Henderson, Not Known

3rd row down: ? Welsted, ? Robinson, Phyllis Squibb, Billy Henderson, ? Robinson
Front Row: Not Known, Not Known

Margery New married (1) Andy Cooke d WWII (2) Bill Colenutt
Gladys Scovell married Vic Whittingham, Ivy Russell married ?Stone
Marge Henderson married a Canadian soldier during WWII and went back to Canada as a war bride.

Phyllis Squibb lived in Whitewalls. Her mother Elsie was a teacher, her father Frank worked for Mills.  Vecta Cooper lived at Upper Lee Farm with parents Henry and Fanny, and Aunt May Cooper. The Welsteds lived in New House or Upper Place      ( there were 2 related families, spelling their name either Welstead or Welsted).Cyril and Margery Henderson lived at Acorn Cottage with parents Victor, a Coastguard, and Florence. Cyril married Sue Hillier who lived in one of the pair of Newclose Cottages, eventually living in the newly built Northview. J.C.